Justice Connect Self-Help Resources
The team at Justice Connect have created a series of fact sheets that can help navigate areas that may otherwise be distressing or complex. You can click on each dot point below to go to the Justice Connect website or click on “(PDF)” next to each topic to download the PDF document version.
- How to deal with gender discrimination and transphobia in SA. (PDF)
- How to legally change your name in SA. (PDF)
- How to change your gender status on formal documents. (PDF)
- Your legal rights at school (SA). (PDF)
Birth Certificate Change of Sex/Gender Marker – Now With Added Name Change in One Document!
For those wishing to change their gender marker a new process is now in place that is much simpler for both applicants and medical practitioners / clinical psychologists. This NEW form also enables a person to change their name and gender marker using the one form! Of course, if you have already, or don’t wish to change your name, you can just ignore that section of the form.
- register a change of sex or gender identity – includes a new birth certificate or identity acknowledgement certificate – $121.00, or $349 if completing a name and gender marker change.
Click HERE for a link to the South Australian Government page with full details.
Click below to read a letter from the premier regarding the new change.
Premiers Letter re Birth Cert Amendment May 2017
Legal Name Change for those born in South Australia
For those wishing to change their name there is a bit of a process.
First you need to download the forms and fill them out and then check you have all the required ID documents (it gives you a list of what is needed on the application form).
Once this is done you then make an appointment to meet with a Consumer and Business Services staff member and submit all the paper work, pay the fee and decide if you wish to have a separate change of name certificate issued or to have it printed on the reverse of your birth certificate. The staff will explain to what this means when you go in.
Click HERE for the application form (child and adult), fee info ($288.50) and checklist of what you will need.
- if you are lodging a change of name application at the same time as changing your gender marker, the fee is $349 total (this saves you $60 compared to doing them separately).
Remember you will need to book an appointment to meet with the CBS name change team which is also done on the CBS website under “Changing your name, sex or gender identity”.
The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender
This document enables a person to amend their federal based gender marker WITHOUT the need to evidence taken hormones or have had any surgical procedure. This means a person can change documents such as their Medicare, Centrelink, bank account, superannuation, Tax, school, TAFE, Uni, FlyBuys, insurance, drivers license / proof of age card etc. Basically this means everything EXCLUDING your Birth Certificate.
Here is the document:
Aus Govt. Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender
Take note of the important stuff in section 24 and 25 on Page 5 of the document and the appendix for a template for medical practitioners to make use of with ease.
WPATH – World Professional Association for Transgender Health
“WPATH is a non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health.” …Their “mission is to promote evidence based care, education, research, advocacy, public policy, and respect in transgender health.”
WPATH has established the STANDARDS OF CARE (click here) which provides a template for clinical guidance for health professionals in providing a service to transgender persons. It can also be of use to individuals, families and other social institutions in supporting transgender people.
Access the WPATH website here – WPATH
Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents
A document aiming to maximize quality care given to those under the age of 18 whom identify as trans or gender diverse. The document provides areas of discussion for treatment options whilst acknowledging current legal constraints and political/legal recommendations.
Read the document here – Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents
South Australian Schools
Public Schools
In South Australia all government-run schools should be following the Department for Education’s Policy and Procedure to support their sexually and gender diverse students. These documents clearly outline many of the strategies schools should be implementing, as well as make it clear that “all children and young people receive a quality education in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment regardless of intersex status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression”
To view the documents on the website CLICK HERE, or to speak with someone from the Department, contact: [email protected]
Private Schools
Non-government schools are not legally bound to the same documents listed above, but do still have a duty of care to their students. All schools in SA are required to follow the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA) and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 . Specifically the Equal Opportunity Act outlines in section 6 that it is “ unlawful for an educational authority to discriminate on the grounds of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or intersex status.”.